Ok, here is Part 2. Part 1 is further down on the board.
Crisis on Infinite Parodyverses Part 15: Beyond the Silent Shower Curtain.
[Crisis Pin-Up Poster #12: Through Interstitial Space
Strange waves of energy vibrated all around the heroes as they glided through the vortex. Everyone is topsy-turvey. The metallic platform had vanished and those on top of it found themselves with no floor to stand on.
Soothsayer is in the lead, with Genesis on his left and Premiere on his right. Just under Genesis flies the second Genesis holding Donar. Under Premiere flies Hatman in his blue Jays cap holding Jarvis. Behind both of them flies the large female dragon Finita Fan Foom with Ms. Jarvis riding on her back and Ms. Epitome in her claws. To the lower left of Genesis flies Alloy Man, War-350 and NTU-150. Their collective armor each blowing jet fire from their boots. Below them flies Fin Fang Foom and Angelheart. To the right of Premiere flies Historic Von El, Ultra Thunder boy and Wild Yo-Fire. Under those three flies Alpha Prime, Starglow and Sun Man. To the far right are Horizon, Solar Flare and Burning Boy. To the far left are the Beam and Powererge. Below them all Mr. Amazing flies an energy portal containing Amazonia and Historia 001. Dr. Amazing flies nearby with Thundar and Thunderstorm in his energy. Amazing Gal has Daniar, Tyranus and Fugleman in her energy while Amazing Guy has Mr. Epitome and Trickshot. Brining up the rear, Amazing Boy has Speedstreak, Jack and Jackie Rabbit.]
“Hey! Where did the platform go?” Trickshot asked as he regained his balance.
“I figured it couldn’t survive the transition to Interstitial Space.” AG replied to his friend.
“Well you coulda told me!”
“Jon? You weren’t on the list.” Jackie said to Speedstreak.
“I could say the same thing about you.”
[Crisis Pin-Up Poster #13: Arriving at the Cowled Criminal’s Stronghold
Pocket Dimension #1
A large citadel made of jagged white rocks lied sprawled across the barren landscape. It’s in the center of view, with all the heroes flying or being carried down towards it.]
“This small offshoot of the Multiverse belonged to the Lurker.” Soothsayer explained. “It was his first base. Now the Cowled Criminal has laid claim to it.”
“How did you know where he was?” Alpha Prime asked.
“The Lurker did something to me. He made it so that I’m drawn to the Criminal’s power. That’s why I’ve gone from universe to universe just before each one was destroyed. It tells me he’s here. At last I can use it for something worthwhile.”
“Before we attack I want to say something to you three.” Hatman turned to Jack, Jackie and Speedstreak. “You weren’t supposed to come. We’ll be facing impossible odds.”
“He killed our father and some of our friends. We’re here, like it or not.” Jackie replied with anger in her eyes.
“Besides,” Jack pointed at Trickshot. “he has no powers and you let him come.”
“Want to tell me I should’ve stayed home, carrot boy?” Trickshot dared Jack.
Speedstreak spoke up. “My father died on another Earth to save the universe. I’m here to honor him and my mother. She never got a chance to tell him about me.” A shimmering image of the hero called Swift appeared. He looked as shocked as his son. Speedstreak responded, “What? Dad? Is that you?” Before anyone could move Swift was gone.
“He . . . that was him!” Jackie responded.
“He’s gone.” Amazing Guy said. “He must’ve been flowing through time before he died.”
“If we’re going to do this, we’d better start.” Epitome alerted them.
“That was him. My father . . .”
Jackie held the boy. “It’s all right, Jon.”
“Cute Speedstreak is losing it. Let’s leave him.”
“Shut up, Wild Yo-Fire! Are you going to be alright?” Ms. Jarvis asked.
The boy straightened up a bit. “Yes. I’ll be fine. Let’s do this.”
“I suggest we split up into smaller groups. One group to find the captured Yo and free him or her.” Fin Fang Foom suggested.
“I agree. We need to look for the Shifter and those artifacts as well.” Jarvis added.
“Watch out for the Criminal and his agents. They can be tricky.” Hatman warned them.
“I’ll show them ‘tricky’.” Trickshot said as he drew his explosive arrow.
The Cowled Criminal watched the crystal view screen with hate. He was no longer in red robes. Now his was garbed in thick crimson armor. It had strange tubes running from his legs and arms to his shoulders. Glowing crimson energy radiated from his body.
The Space Fandom leaped up in anticipation. “Massster . .er . .er! They come!”
Prizecatcher leaned back against a huge rock and sharpened his long knife with disinterest. “Well boss, can we beat them?”
Duplicate Death sneered. “Of course we can. They’re all fools.”
“Is your Retcon Force Armor ready master?” Amazed Adaptoid asked.
“Yes. It was built with pure retcon force. Its healing properties allow for me to harness and store the absorbed energy I’ve gained from the Yo-being and the artifacts. Let them come. They will all fall.”
“Master, I want Amazing Guy. I’ve got a score to settle.” Amoral Guy said while practicing his power, focusing it to shape energy weapons.
Horrible Hair took a break from testing his claws on rock to reply hungrily. “And I want those Rabbits!”
“Kill whomever you want. I want Amoral Guy to guard the thought being. Prizecatcher guards Shifter. I will gaurd the artifacts. The rest of you do what you must, just make sure no one survives.”
“That doesn’t leave many of us to fight them.” Duplicate Death said.
“Makes you wish Spacewarped didn’t vanish, doesn’t it?” Horrible Hair commented. Duplicate Death continued, “They do out number us.” She knew it was a risk to talk to their master like that but she did not care. Someone had to point out the obvious. By the Criminal’s stare she wondered if that was a dumb idea.
“You doubt my power?” His voice caused everyone to stop. It was still the dark, foreboding sound of death, yet there was something else behind it. Was it fear? “Woman, you shall have an army to lead! Now go and kill those intruders! Don’t make me ask again!”
His eyes flashed with crimson power.
“Something’s not right.” Starglow said as she, Wild Yo-Fire, Solar Flare and Alloy Man flew through a rock formation.
“She’s right. My sensors are going haywire.” Alloy Man confirmed.
“The rocks! They’re alive!” Solar Flare stated the obvious as several rock creatures of various sizes attacked. He used his thermal powers and Wild Yo-Fire used his energy to both melt the oncoming creatures.
Alloy Man blasted more apart. “They keep coming! Starglow, fly on through. We’ll do out best here!”
Another group was facing the same odds as Mr. Epitome and Fugleman smashed apart their rock attackers. Burning Boy and Powererge fired their own unique blasts at the creatures. Finita Fan Foom flew down, grabbed two rock creatures and smashed them into a larger one.
A third party of heroes were just as busy. War-350 fired his Sub-atomic cannons on a large monster while Dr. Amazing used his energy to blow the fragments into another monster. Ultra Thunder boy ripped apart his opponent with his bare hands while Horizon set up another. Horizon used his energy body to distract the creature while his long dead father, Sun Man, smashed it to bits from behind.
“Thanks, young man.” Sun Man said before tackling another.
Horizon started to tear up as he replied, “Don’t mention it.”
“Ho! Foul creatures! Fall!” Donar commanded as his threw his baseball bat with a nail in it called Mjalcolm through a large creature.
He bent down and helped the hero whom the creature had been pummeling into the ground. “Art thou in one piece, stranger?”
“Aye! Let us smash more, for our foes greatly increase!” Thundar, Donar’s Satireverse double replied.
NTU-150 just shook his head. “Some things never change.”
Behind him Mr. Amazing and Genesis were dealing with their own creatures.
Starglow flew past this group onto the next horizon. A beam of solid light almost got her.
“Careful Starglow!” Ms. Jarvis called out while trying to break free from a rock creature. “It’s the Amazed Adaptoid. He took out both the Beam and Genesis II. He’s using their powers against us!”
Starglow watched a moment as Thunderstorm tangled with the robotic villain. Before she could help, Premiere smashed his fist clear through the Adaptoid. “Starglow, go on. AG, Hatman and the rest are just ahead. We’ve got things here.”
Amazed Adaptoid sputtered and then died. The artificial lights of his one human eyes went out for good.
She flew over a rock arch and found Amazing Guy and Historic Von El getting pounded into the ground. Historia 001, Amazonia and Daniar all tackled the creature, showing it why a woman’s wrath is something to be feared.
“Are you all right, Von El?” AG asked as he brushed himself off.
“Yes. Go with Starglow. Catch up with Hatman and the others.”
“OK. Be careful. I don’t want you to die twice!” AG flew off with Starglow.
A creepy figure watched them fly overhead. “Some are getting through! The Massster won’t like that . . . at . . .at! I can’t stop them, but I bet I could fool . . . ool . . .ool some of the others!”
The Spaced Fandom hopped away through the rocks until he saw four more hated figures. Trickshot, Speedstreak, Jack and Jackie Rabbit had been quietly trying to get deeper in without causing attention to themselves.
Now Speedstreak was lying on the ground, unconscious while Trickshot aimed an explosive arrow at their attacker, the warped alternate Jack Rabbit known as Horrible Hair.
“How is he Tricky?” Jackie asked as the rabbit heroes circled the hairy villain.
“He’ll be ok. The freak only grazed ‘em. I’m gonna do a lot more to ol’ Rabbit ears, though!”
The Spaced Fandom smiled as he readied himself to resemble one of the heroes. He was shocked when nothing happened.
“Spaced Fandom! Surely you can see that your master is losing this fight. You will die soon. Come with me and I’ll assure you survive for a long time.” A voice called out from a strange portal.
“Who . . . are you?”
A man in a goatee, long mustache , tall weird hat and long green robe could be seen through the portal. “I am called Immortox! Join me!”
The Spaced Fandom gladly took his hand and entered the portal. “You . . . ou had me at ‘die soon’.”
The portal vanished, causing the Cowled Criminal to lose his longest servant.
KATHOOM! KATHOOM!
“Crap! My explosive arrows take out those rock creatures, but more just keep on coming!” Trickshot fired three more arrows with similar results. “Wish I could help you guys.”
“It’s ok, Carl.” Jackie replied as she flipped out of the way of Horrible Hair’s advance. “Just do what you can!”
Jack bounced on top of a rock arch, swung under it and kicked their foe.
“Try all you can, Rabbits! I’m faster and stronger than both of you!” Horrible Hair taunted.
Jack crouched on a large rock while his twin sister tried to out race his warped copy. The sound of a strong impact drew his attention to Trickshot, whom just barley missed being squashed by a ten foot tall rock creature.
“Of course!” Jack thought to himself, then said, “Hey copy cat! Sure, you’re all tough. You’re really something when you take on the weaker sex. Care to try a go with me?”
Horrible Hair turned to Jack and growled. The fur on his back stood up. “I was saving you for later.”
Jack bounced up and then landed on the ground. He rolled then kicked his foe across the face, leaving scratch marks. “Why wait? You know you want to kill me.”
“RAARGH! I’m going to hang your pelt on my fireplace!” The bigger Horrible Hair started to bound after Jack while Jackie caught her breath.
Jack led the chase around, under and over the various rock formations. Finally he led the wild beast around and on top of the ten foot tall rock monster that was trying to get Trickshot.
“Hey! Watch out!” Tricky called but Jack paid him no mind. He leapt under the creature and Horrible Hair landed beside him, ready to grab the smaller Jack. At the last possible second Jack flipped away. The powerful rock arm from the creature smashed down on Horrible Hair, crunching him into paste.
“Ew! That’s going to be hard to clean up.” Jackie said as she and Tricky joined Jack.
Strange quantum energy wrapped around the rock monster, reducing it to rubble. The heroes looked relieved to see Amazing Gal flying over. “Are you three alright? I’m looking for the wounded.”
“Yes!” Jackie replied. “Pick up Speedstreak. He’s unconscious. We’re going to go deeper in.”
Amazing Gal waves them off. “Be careful!”
Amazing Guy, Starglow and Amazing Boy paused a moment to take in the scene. Jarvis, Fin Fang Foom, Tyranus, Ms. Epitome and Angelheart were fighting both giant rock creatures and several duplicate versions of Duplicate Death. It was hard for AG, because Duplicate Death is an alternate version of his wife. Only instead of being a loving support to him, she’s pure evil with the ability to splint off alternate copies of herself.
There were stretching versions, ice and fire versions, armored versions and one with spikes and a whip. Jarvis, Ms. Epitome and Angelheart seemed to have their hands full. Finny was at his full height and Tyranus was in his Tyrannosaurus form. They had their claws full trying to hold back rock monsters.
“Enough! Thou have sinned unto the Lord!” Angelheart said as he lifted his flaming sword. “Though it wounds me to take a mortal life, you must pay for your sins!” The Satireverse angel whom could have been Messenger slashed his flaming sword down across the main version of Duplicate Death. She did not even have time to scream as her head fell to the ground. The alternate copies vanished when the main body died.
“Whew! I thought we’d never get rid of her.” Finny said right after he melted two rock creatures with his breath.
“Do you guys need more help?” AG asked.
“No, we’re fine. Go on ahead. Hatman further ahead. He’ll need you guys more.”
“Wait up. I think I’ll join you.” Jarvis flew after Amazing Guy, Starglow and Amazing Boy.
A little further they found Soothsayer unconscious on the ground. Hatman and Alpha Prime were ducking from energy blasts that Prizecatcher was firing on them.
“Look! There’s a man trapped in that energy cell behind the bad guy.” Amazing Boy pointed.
“It’s Shifter. He was a hero a long time ago, back when I was leading the League of Regulars.” Jarvis explained. “He has the power to retcon anything.”
“That mortal may have had power at one point,” Starglow commented, “but I sense he is completely powerless now. The Cowled Criminal must have drained him dry.”
“That’s all he’s going to do to Shifter.” Amazing Guy said, then created a wave of Multiversal energy to wash Prizecatcher into the rocks. After a sparkling display of energy, AG said, “No! I can’t open the cell.”
A Quantum-powered blade ripped through AG’s cape, nearly making contact with his left leg. Prizecatcher sneered, “The Master made damn sure you couldn’t. Anyone else want to try?”
Jarvis blasted his Jarvis Cosmic, AG sent forth more Multiversal Energy, Starglow fired her unique celestial power, Alpha Prime used his ancient staff and Hatman tried fire thanks to his Phoenix Suns cap. Prizecatcher effortlessly bounced, leaped and swung out of the way.
“You forgot, I was Swingy, Master of the Swinging Arts, in a former life!”
Magnetic force lifted the villain by his weapon belts and banged him against the rocks. Amazing Boy stood beside the energy cell and smiled. “Invisibility to get behind him, magnetics to take him down and energy absorption . . .” He turned to the cell, touched it and brought in it’s power. The energy walls faded while he glowed. Amazing Boy, however, started to stumble. “ . . . to open the . . .”
The immortal icon, Alpha Prime, grabbed him before the boy fell. “Whoa young one. I’ve got you. Take a rest.”
“Wait, where did Prizecatcher go?” Hatman asked.
Everyone looked around but it was true, the master of stealth had seemed to vanish. Even Starglow and Amazing Guy could not perceive him. Utilizing his Camo-belt, Prizecatcher blended in with the rocky background. The device was created with a small physic scrambler. Even the most perceptive had a hard time locking in on him.
The villain swore to himself. Amazing Boy’s magnetic wave fried most of his equipment. The Time-Buttons, Pocket Time, Program Rewriter chip and everything else with electronics were useless. His trusty energy pistol still worked, however.
The Chamber of Power was hard to miss. It was fifteen- feet high and glowing with power. Inside was a strange fluid where floated several objects. They were the Twelve Sacred Items of Power; Knifie the sentient knife, Areei the sentient scimitar, the Starseed, the Plot Accelerator, M’jalcom ™ (Donar’s bat with a nail in it), the Movie Gun, the Booke of Law, the Chronometer of Infinity, the Psycho-Stave, the Omniversal Facilitator, the Scepter of KutKut and Pooty. Each item was stolen from history and placed within this chamber. It was Prizecatcher’s job to guard it.
Standing before the large chamber, Jarvis’ hands glowed with the Jarvis Cosmic. “M’jalcom? Knifie? Lisa’s book?”
Starglow was helping Amazing Boy to walk. The kid looked drained. Amazing Guy was next. He had a Multiversal stretcher for the unconscious Soothsayer. Alpha Prime came up beside Jarvis while Hatman followed along. He was supporting the depowered Shifter.
“The Cowled Criminal is getting his power from those artifacts and Yo.” Shifter explained.
“Where is Yo?” Hatman asked.
“Just a little farther. Let me rest a moment.” Hatman helped the hero to sit on a rock.
“Well, we shouldn’t waste any time.” Jarvis said. “Let’s rip it apart!” He poured the Jarvis Cosmic into the Chamber. AG added his Multiversal energy as well. After a few moments they stopped. The Chamber just glowed brighter.
“I don’t believe any of our energy will break it.” Alpha Prime said.
“It just absorbed it. Great. So now what do we do?” Jarvis wondered.
“You die!” Prizecatcher shouted as he reappeared in front of the Chamber. He fired his pistol at Jarvis and AG. The men dropped to the ground as they were racked in spasms.
Hatman put on his Pittsburgh Stealers cap and armored up just in time for the next blast to ricochet off him. Prizecatcher fingered a latch on his pistol and then fired a small missile like projectile. It knocked Hatman off his feet. Prizecatcher then spun to his left while touching the latch again and fired at Alpha Prime, electrifying him to his knees.
“No more!” Shifter plunged into Prizecatcher before the villain could fire on Starglow or Amazing Boy.
Their momentum carried them straight into the Chamber of Power. The resulting explosion vaporized both men. Eleven artifacts vanished, returning to their proper times and places. The Hooded Hood’s stuffed bear, Pooty, dropped to the rocky floor.
Starglow starts to stagger to her knees. Amazing Boy caught her. Jarvis looked shocked as he faded away.
“What happened to him?” Hatman asked. Amazing Guy and Alpha Prime started to stand up.
Starglow, resting against a rock, replied. “The past and future are beginning to return to their proper places. He was returned, along with many others, to his proper time. Also, the Anti-Story has been stopped. We . . . have done it.”
“Is she ok?” AG asked.
“Yes.” Alpha Prime replied. “She has always been sensitive to the working of the universe. Everything is taking it’s toll.”
Amazing Boy picked up Pooty. “I wonder why this little fella is still here?”
“Who can say? All I know is a brave man died today. I’ll never forget Shifter’s sacrifice.” Hatman said.
Knowing they could now allow much time for regret, Amazing Guy said, “He’d want us to continue on. Yo is still trapped out there somewhere.”
“Wait. We can’t take Soothsayer. He’s still out.” Amazing Boy pointed out. “Shouldn’t someone stay behind with him and wait for Amazing Gal?”
Alpha Prime spoke up, “I’ll stay. You people go find your friend.”
The unisex thought being and full member of the Lair Legion, Yo, sat transfixed in a strange chair within a cage made of more energy. He/she has been in that spot for weeks as the Cowled Criminal fed false thoughts into the being. Yo was led to believe that she/he was rescuing her/his planet from evil forces.
“Nothing seems to work. I’ve even tried my TNT Arrow but it’s no use.” Trickshot called back to Jack and Jackie Rabbit.
“Let us try.” Hatman landed and swapped his Blue Jays cap for his Sonics cap. His large blue wings shrunk into his back. He focused a vocal blast at the energy cage but it didn’t work.
“What’s with the teddy bear?” Jack asked Amazing Boy.
“It belongs to the Hooded Hood.” The boy responded while hovering beside Starglow.
“Try your Multiversal energy.” Jackie told AG.
“Don’t bother.” A blast of quantum energy slammed Trickshot into the ground. Another bounced off Amazing Guy’s instant Multiversal shield while Jackie leapt out of the way.
“Amoral Guy! My evil alternate Earth double!” AG announced as the villain flew in.
“It’s over heroes. The master is almost ready to kill you. I’ve practiced with thousands of scenarios against the entire Lair Legion and JBH. I can easily take out the few of you.” Amoral Guy’s body radiated with quantum force. His eyes were wild. “Your buddy is dead, AG. He was always the stronger one. After I kill you I’m going to Littlesmallville, fooling your wife and kids into thinking I’m you and then I’ll have a gooood time!”
“I’m sick of this villain crap!” Amazing Guy yelled as he slammed a Multiversal train into his double. Amoral Guy hit the ground hard. “I’m sick of evil doubles!” Amoral Guy tried to connect a quantum blast but missed AG. “And I’m sick of bad guys threatening my family!”
Hatman did not waste any time. He swapped caps again, placing on his Evron Electricians cap. His body charged with electricity. Hatman poured enough power into the cell to light up the entire eastern seaboard. Starglow adds her celestial power and Amazing Boy adds his own electricity. The Rabbits cover their super sensitive eyes.
With a fantastic light display, the energy cage blanked out. Hatman moved in to help Yo.
With each word Amazing Guy hit Amoral Guy. Each connect of the good AG’s Multiversal fists cracked the bad AG’s quantum shield and bloodied his face. “I . . . HAVE . . . HAD . . . ENOUGH . . . OF . .. YOU!” His final word was accompanied with a full Multiversal blast, frying Amoral Guy until the villain dropped to the hard rocky ground, beaten.
A blast of pure retcon force slammed Amazing Guy down. “ENOUGH!” Another blast smashed the unprotected Hatman through several rock walls. Jay was down for the count.
The Cowled Criminal stood in his armor, seething. “You lost me my artifacts! You killed all of my servants but that one!”
Amazing Boy (the stuffed bear still tucked in his belt) flew at the Criminal. The master villain gestured and a beam of strange colors completely bathed the young hero from Earth CB.
“A full Narrative Restructure blast should deal with you, child.” Amazing Boy looked at his hands in shock. The young hero did not just vanish, but unraveled into words. Before the horrified eyes over everyone else, Amazing Boy was not just gone, but never was.
The Cowled Criminal looked shaken as he picked up the discarded Pooty. “I can not do that again, but it was worth it. Ah, there is my bear!”
“What did you do to him?” the always calm but now quite frightening Starglow shouted. She fired bolts of power at the Criminal. Each one seemed to deflect off his armor. He used a force blast to knock her into Jack Rabbit. Both heroes were stunned but not out.
“A Narrative Restructure blast. Amazing Boy wont be back for awhile and not quite the same way.”
“Butcher!” Amazing Guy flew and started to hit the Criminal with everything he had. His face was bleeding, his clothes torn, but he did not care. This was the one who did it all. AG was not going to let him get away with it.
The Protector of the Parodyverse smashed at the Cowled Criminal’s armor, shattering it in many places. With each hit, AG drew blood. Too many have died thanks to this man and Amazing Guy was not going to let any more go down.
Unfortunately, he was still far out classed. The Cowled Criminal, beaten badly but still very powerful, finally found a moment to swat away the Multiversal constructs and smashed AG into the ground. His armor was cracked, his skin cut and bleeding, but he still had enough power to keep hitting AG. Each powerful punch broke something in the Protector of the Parodyverse. “I said enough, mortal! You are a speck to me! You are nothing!”
Jackie watched in fear as she pulled the unconscious Yo away. She lied the drained thought being beside the stunned Starglow. Jackie said aloud to the cosmic butterfly, “You’re Starglow, right?”
“Uhh, yes.”
Jackie looked over to her brother. Jack was still dazed, barely aware of what was going on. “Listen, Starglow. We were briefed on your powers. You can cover others in rainbow cocoons and fly them to safety, right?”
“Yes, but . . .”
“No! You listen. Take the heroes here and get them to safety. The Criminal looks exhausted and his armor is cracked pretty bad. It’s leaking a lot of energy. I know you can get the others away before he could catch you.”
“But I’m so weak . . .”
“DO IT, DAMN IT! Scott’s dying! You can save them!”
She turned around and hopped over to a shard of metal. She picked it up and then bounced behind the Criminal. Jackie tried to push the metal into the villain but it only scratched his side. It did catch his attention, though.
“What is this? Another speck? Leave me, mortal! I must escape to lick my wounds!” He blasted the charred ground where she was, but Jackie leapt into the air, kicking him repeatedly across the face. It was a testament to how weak the Criminal had become because Jackie’s strong legs actually caused him a lot of pain.
“No! I wont let you escape, monster! I’ll stand in your way until you’re defeated! You killed my father, my friends, so many people!” As she shouted at him, she leapt just out of the reach of his powerful blasts. Each scratch or kick did more damage to the villain. “We’ll beat you! You won’t win! We’ll stop you and in the end you’ll never become anything but a waste of a man! You’ll . . .”
“STOP IT!” The Cowled Criminal, broken, blooded and in a shattered mess, managed to grab Jackie by the fake ears of her costume. He held her at arm’s length. “Enough of this, girl!”
Jack Rabbit started to stir. He opened his eyes to witness the one thing he has dreaded all his life. Broken, he started to stand on wobbly legs. Starglow was in shock beside him. “J . . . Jackie? JACKIE!”
Jackie turned to see the terror in her brother’s face. “Jack? Starglow! Run!”
The Cowled Criminal’s eyes lit up deep crimson. “Look at me when I kill you, flea!” Beams of lethal energy lanced out of the Criminal’s eyes and through Jackie’s chest. They traveled out her back, taking blood and pulped flesh with them.
“AAAAIIIEEEE!”
“JAAAACKIE!” Jack scrambled towards her even as the Criminal threw her body to the ground.
The villain grabbed the unconscious body of Amoral Guy and vanished. The last thing the heroes heard was his strained voice. “If I can’t kill you here, I’ll do it at the beginning of time!”
Jack cradled his bloody, broken sister in his arms.
“J . . . Jack.”
His red, now maskless face was a mess of tears. “No sis. Don’t. It’s alright. We’ll get you to safety.” Various heroes, including Amazing Guy, Trickshot, Hatman, Yo and Fin Fang Foom, all silently circled the pair.
“It’s . . . too late.”
“Nooo! Don’t say that! We’ll . . .”
“Brother? I . . . I just wanted to . . . tell you . . .”
“Jackie . . .”
“I . . . I’m proud of you and I . . . love yo . . .”
Jackie Roberts, the hero with a lot of heart, died in her brother’s arms.
“Jackie was the greatest among us.” PhantomGhostGirl, member of both the Lair Legion of Super Heroes and the JBH, said from the podium.
The gathering at Off Centre Park was huge. All of the JBH, Lair Legion, Junior Lair Legion, Abandoned Legion, Globetrotting Gangbusters, Lair Legion of Super Heroes, retired Lair Society of Justice and many solo heroes stood along side ordinary people.
“Why do I say that? Because she had heart. Her passion for others far outweighed any personal desires. She just loved. In the JBH we had many members who weren’t the most easy to work with.”
Natalia Romanza elbowed Trickshot but he continued to look towards the stage. His eyes were an icy blue that chilled the Contessa.
“Jackie gave those individuals the benefit of the doubt. She pleaded for them privately to the chairman, and when we were alone as roommates, she would never join in on bad talk. I just don’t know how anyone could love so freely. The world is colder now without that love.”
Jack’s face remained deep within his hands. He wept bitterly.
Visionary 5 looked at the gently dispersing crowd. His super brain seemed a million miles away.
“Query? Earth to Query Pox, come in Vishy.” Triple L called to him. “Hey, are you alright?”
“Hmm? Oh, yes. Of course. I’m fine. Let’s go. We’ve got only a few minutes to enter the Time Square. Now that the time stream is on the mend we’ve got to get back to our era.”
“Oh I don’t know. Tonya is going to stay and help the JBH for awhile. I wouldn’t mind staying, too.”
“No. I could not persuade PhantomGhostGirl but the rest of you must come. Tonya and Justin Tyme are all the out of place travelers this ear can afford right now. Besides, it’s a backwards, barbaric time. We’re better off in the future.”
Chameleon Dragon turned to Golden Elemental and whispered, “Yup, our Vishy is back.”
Lightning-Hatress replied, “Shame.” Some of the Legionaries laughed.
Visionary 5, however, thought to himself behind the protection of his personal telepathic scrambler, “Laugh all you want, fools. It wasn’t suppose to be like this. Things will change when we get back to our time. Oh yes, they will!”
Red eyes watched a television from a candle lit basement. A soft, unearthly voice said, “It’s finally time for her to really live.”
Trickshot silently sat on a windswept hilltop. His thoughts are his own.
Jack Roberts stood in a trash-lined alley. His face looked downward as he held his Jack Rabbit costume.
The Squirrel, a fury crime fighter from Earth CB hoped off a balcony to land beside Jack. “Hey pal. What’s going on?”
“What do you think is going on?” Jack took his costume and threw it in a trashcan. “I knew it was coming but I still couldn’t do anything about it!”
“Listen, Jack. On my Earth it was you who died. It was very hard for me, too but I came to realize . . .”
“Save it. I’m not your Jack Rabbit. He’s gone. I don’t know you so if you don’t mind, please get the %^&$ away!” Jack stormed off.
Brainattack’s Skull ship was massive. It orbited the dark side of the moon sinisterly.
Inside many villains chatted and discussed plans. Brainattack had set the auto-transport system to continuously locate villains. Any of the villains from the seven Earths who were listed in the files were teleported up to the ship at regular intervals.
A figure appeared right behind some strange machinery. He wore a familiar yellow coat. The automated computer announced his arrival but the crowd stopped paying attention to it long ago.
“The Apostate.”
Visionary looked around in shock. “The Apostate? Where? Who? Uh . . . where am I?”
The Fake man quietly peered around the machine to look at just part of the crowd. He saw Suicide Blonde, Evil Monkey, The Anti-Visionary, Honey Bee, Birthday Bandit, Uncle Bob, the Cyborg Librarian, Jack Knife, Dreamripper, Spinoid, Yellow Fever, Terrorox the Graverobber, Undermind Obscura, Gromm, the Living Flatulence, Jack-of-All-Trades, Indigo Impostor, General Roxx-Hoff, Helmut Zemo, Pierson's Porter, Eustace Slaw, Mantikore, Kitty Boom Boom, Dr. Strange-Toilet, Madame Symmetry of Synchronicity, Towel Man, Mary Prankstar and the giant Ape God.
“Oh crap.” He said.
To be continued as its Visionary versus all the villains, then we see a all out war between good guys and bad guys! It’ll be our second to last issue so watch out!
JUMP FOR MY LOVE FOOTNOTES
GOOD BYE TOM NOTE:
I first created Tom Irving as a way to have my own hero on the PV. I had been posting in my Comicboards handle, Access and I decided it was time to switch to something all my own.
The names ‘Tom Irving’ and ‘Amazing Guy’ came to my head from nowhere as well. I suppose the hero I made back in the 80’s as a teen (Amazing Boy) was still floating in my skull. I was writing a big saga for the PV and found the perfect spot for him to premier.
As a teen and young man I had thought it would be cool to have the ability to use whatever five powers I could think of at the same time. I loved the idea and gave it to Tom. The power was not popular. People had wanted me to slim down so I did. I decided to recreate Tom and even changed his name to a similar form of mine. So Scott Brunsen was born.
But what about Tom Irving. I decided to tie him into Trickshot’s history and make Tricky’s home his home. I started changing things and leading up to things that are only now finally happening.
As of right now in the Crisis, Tom is gone and Scott is AG. Next issue everything that you’ve ever known about Scott and Tom will change for good.
TOO MANY EARTHS NOTE : Satireverse, Nazi Earth, Switch Sex Earth, Technopolis Earth, Earth RGA and Earth CB
These and all the other Alternate Earths are better explained here.
A more up to date version is waiting until after Crisis.
GOOD BYE ACCESS NOTE :
Scott Asher, the universe hoping hero called Access, was lifted from DC and Marvel comics. Way back when those companies teamed up and created Axel Asher, Access (the man of two worlds). The character was co-owned by bother Marvel and DC. He would travel from one universe to another. I really liked the idea.
When I discovered ComicBoards, I needed a posting name. I chose Access because then I could post on any of the comic themed boards and still be a DC and Marvel character.
At the same time I discovered the Parodyverse. So I posted a Marvel/DC Fan Fic here as Access. I then created my first PV story with him as one of the central characters.
Here’s the first post by him. It mentions the “Infinite Crisis”. Check the date. I created a fan fic that I posted on several ComicBoards. I called it Infinite Crisis LONG before DC ever used that name. Guess a DC executive was reading and saw my fan fic back in August '99.
The Infinite Crisis beget a sequel. The Reality War. This brought all sorts of DC and Marvel characters into the PV. It was fun and if anyone cares, I’ll repost it for Mike, JJJ, Jason and any other “newbies”.
We saw the final fate of Access way back in 2001. I just updated it but yes, you can see it in it’s new form as the beginning of my old “Truth About AG Special” right here.
That story will get further changes next issue of Crisis when everything we knew about AG will be forever altered.
SPACE INBETTWEEN SPACE NOTE :
Interstitial Space isn't a dimension so much as the sea in which all the dimensions float. The Nexus of Unreality is the middle of this Vortex called Interstitial Space. It’s the Vortex Nexus between the various parallel strands of the multi-continuitied Parodyverse. This strange, ever-changing area is largely uncharted, but may be the home or at least the base of the extra dimensional Nebulus, an advanced race who plan to use the Parodyverse as a breeding ground for super-powered armies of conquest. Their principal operative is the exotic Lo-Chi, Jarvis' first wife. Also prowling this area are the parasitic Hero Feeders. There's one good public bar out here that's kind of neutral territory, where cosmic entities tend to drop in where Nobody Speaks Your Name.
THE LEGIONARE FORMALLY KNOWN AS . . . NOTE :
Once upon a time there was a Maxelian hero with all of Superman’s powers. He was called Von Ellen or Victory. He was a spy and came to Earth. He helped form the JBH and died fighting Dark Thugos here in Amazing Tales #16, DeathWorld part3
He was revived in the far future by the Lair Legion of Super Heroes and serves them to this day as Historic Von El (the future’s HV hero).
Now you can understand AG’s comment about him dying before.
I went with the Sarah given name cause I liked it the best. It can always be changed later.
Now he has his very own spaced underling, the Spaced Fandom.
Use him all you like, people. Just don’t misspell his name.
RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM NOTE :
Pocket Dimension #1 :
The Lurker used this uninhabited dimension to set up his first base. It was later used by the Narrator. The Cowled Criminal felt it was a fitting place to set up operations. It’s the first strange location in any of my PV stories.
SO LONG JACKIE NOTE :
Long ago I had the idea to create a PV Spider-man. I wanted to do the hard luck every man hero. This is why I created Jack Rabbit. Shortly afterward I realized everyone had created one. Well, not everyone but Kirk and Jay did at least. I don’t know. There is an essence of Spidey in a lot of people’s characters.
At any rate, I created Jack and his twin sister Jackie for the board. I even planned on establishing that Jack had been a hero for awhile already, and that his sister had no plan to become a hero. Jack Rabbit, Adventurer #1, The very first appearance of both Jack and Jackie, back in 2000
I posted as Jack Rabbit to see if anyone would guess who I was. Stupid, huh? Still, the story was fun and I enjoyed writing the series.
When I had Jack hurt, I gave Jackie a try. Jack Rabbit, Second Series #5, or The Rabbit's Dead, Dear.
She joined the JBH and became pretty popular. Thing is, I had planned from the beginning to kill her in Crisis. Well, it took way to long to get to Crisis and all the while both the fans and I started to like her. Still, the plans continued.
So here we are. The trouble with starting a saga like Crisis and then getting distracted and not finishing it, is that big shock events like this one has are thrown in the toilet. I’ve had to write things with my cast that take place after Crisis.
How many people out there have already guessed what’s really going on with Jackie? Exactly.
Ah well. Serves me right for taking a long break to get the novel done.
Anyway, I’ve always liked Jackie. If things weren’t changed, this issue would have been very hard to write. But things have been changed and in place for a while. Keep watching this space. There is more to the story.
This story is written and copyrighted (C) 2006 by Scott Bryan (also known as AG), and may not be
reprinted without permission. Emily, Draden, Anthony Knowles, Sunset Sal, Amazing Guy, Justin Time, Jack Rabbit, Jackie Rabbit, Desert Rose, Eli the Elemental, Kid Produce, Scott Brunsen, Tom Irving, the JBH, Amazing Bunch, Champion Battalion, Alpha Prime, Blackbird, Mongoose, Fabric, Tyranus, Solarflare, Elastic Woman, Golden Giant, Madam Liberty, Squirrel,
Starglow, Archer, Vindicators, TK, Animaila, Power Urge, Harmony, Ally Cat, Captain Crimson, Blue Jewel, Equindox, Amazing Boy and Moonlord all are properties of Scott Bryan and AG.
Scott
ag aka muse-slave aka Jack_Roberts aka just 'Scott'
My blog, THE BLOG OF THE NIGHT CHILDREN.
Come see!
Scott
ag aka muse-slave aka Jack_Roberts aka just 'Scott'
My blog, THE BLOG OF THE NIGHT CHILDREN.
Come see!
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